The heated game between Colo Colo and River Plate, in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals, left a huge controversy. Fans of the Chilean team, and also many of Boca Juniors, demanded a red card for River’s Colombian striker Miguel Ángel Borja.
According to the criteria of
In the 52nd minute, Borja made a very strong tackle on Emiliano Amor, a Colo Colo player: He tried to block a ball and ended up giving him a hard blow to the ankle. The central referee, the Brazilian Raphael Claus, did not even show him a yellow card and the VAR did not call him to review the decision.
The action generated huge protests from the Colo Colo fans, starting with its president, Aníbal Mosa, who strongly questioned the work of the referees and claimed that they had the referees against them.
“It was a disgrace in every sense of the word. Borja’s stomp on Emiliano Amor is disgusting, anywhere that would be a red card,” said Mosa, specifically, about the Colombian’s action.
And why did Boca fans protest? Because they considered that the foul was the same as the one that cost Peruvian Luis Advíncula his expulsion in the Copa Sudamericana match against Cruzeiro, one of the quickest in the history of the tournament: referee Wílmar Roldán showed him the red card after 29 seconds.
Analysis of the VAR audios in Borja’s play
On Wednesday, Conmebol published the VAR audios and revealed the conversation between Claus and the person in charge of video refereeing, the also Brazilian Rodolpho Toski.
In its analysis, Conmebol endorsed the referees’ decision, considering that Borja’s tackle was of “low intensity” and that it was a “reckless action”, deserving of a yellow card.
However, it is worth remembering that the VAR cannot intervene in cautioning plays. There are four specific points, according to the International Board:
a. goal/no goal;
b. criminal/non-criminal;
c. direct red card (not the second yellow card/warning);
d. mistaken identity (when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player from the offending team).
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